« | Isaiah 24 | » |
1 Behold, the Lord is about to lay waste the world, and will make it desolate, and will lay bare its surface, and scatter them that dwell therein.
2 And the people shall be as the priest, and the servant as the lord, and the maid as the mistress; the buyer shall be as the seller, the lender as the borrower, and the debtor as his creditor.
3 The earth shall be completely laid waste, and the earth shall be utterly spoiled; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things.
4 The earth mourns, and the world is ruined, the lofty ones of the earth are mourning.
5 And she has sinned by reason of her inhabitants; because they have transgressed the law, and changed the ordinances, [even] the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse shall consume the earth, because its inhabitants have sinned; therefore the inhabitants of the earth shall be poor, and few men shall be left.
7 The wine shall mourn, the vine shall mourn, all the merry-hearted shall sigh.
8 The mirth of timbrels has ceased, the sound of the harp has ceased.
9 They are ashamed, they have not drunk wine; strong drink has become bitter to them that drink [it].
10 All the city has become desolate; one shall shut his house so that none shall enter.
11 There is a howling for the wine everywhere; all the mirth of the land has ceased, all the mirth of the land has departed.
12 And cities shall be left desolate, and houses being left shall fall to ruin.
13 All this shall be in the land in the midst of the nations, as if one should strip an olive tree, so shall they strip them; but when the vintage is done,
14 these shall cry aloud; and they that are left on the land shall rejoice together in the glory of the Lord; the water of the sea shall be troubled.
15 Therefore shall the glory of the Lord be in the isles of the sea; the name of the Lord shall be glorious.
16 O Lord God of Israel, from the ends of the earth we have heard wonderful things, [and there is] hope for the godly; but they shall say, Woe to the despisers, that abhor the law.
17 Fear, and a pit, and a snare, are upon you that dwell on the earth.
18 And it shall come to pass, [that] he that flees from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that comes up out of the pit shall be caught by the snare; for windows have been opened in heaven, and the foundations of the earth shall be shaken,
19 the earth shall be utterly confounded, and the earth shall be completely perplexed.
20 It reels as a drunkard and one oppressed with wine, and the earth shall be shaken as a storehouse of fruits; for iniquity has prevailed upon it, and it shall fall, and shall not be able to rise.
21 And God shall bring [His] hand upon the host of heaven, and upon the kings of the earth.
22 And they shall gather the multitude thereof into prisons, and they shall shut them into a stronghold; after many generations they shall be visited.
23 And the brick shall decay, and the wall shall fall; for the Lord shall reign from out of Zion, and out of Jerusalem, and shall be glorified before [His] elders.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.